Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

Marquette, home of Northern Michigan University, was ranked as one of the safest college towns in America, according to The SafeWise Report. Northern takes pride in having a campus that is caring, inclusive and ready to take action in light of safety concerns. Northern encourages students, employees and visitors to make themselves familiar with the resources and services available for assistance in matters of safety.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

Thomas Fine Arts Building

Thomas Fine Arts

This facility serves students specializing in Communication and Performance Studies and music. Courses in electronic journalism, entertainment and sports promotion, media production and new technology, media studies, public relations, speech communication and theatre are often offered in the Thomas Fine Arts Building.

Music facilities include a music technology lab, two rehearsal rooms, three classrooms, 28 practice rooms, 24 keyboard stations and piano lab and studio offices. Many of the practice rooms are Wenger studios, named for the company that set the standard for music industry facilities, two of which are “V” ready to perfectly duplicate the acoustics of other venues; and the percussion ensemble room is the largest Wegner studio ever built. NMU's music and communications and performance studies faculty offices are located here. Various classes in other fields of study also meet in Thomas Fine Arts.

The building is connected to the Forest Roberts Theatre and the McClintock building and has a skywalk extending to C.B. Hegdcock. It is named for Russell Thomas, who was head of the English Department at Northern for 24 years.